In large city zones, accumulation of populations and various functions have progressed, and living environment has deteriorated due to spiral increases in land prices and lowering of the habitation standards.
(1) Subways
As of August 1995, subways are operated by public enterprisers, the Teito Rapid Transit Authority and nine cities (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Fukuoka) for a total business distance of 539.5 km. The number of passengers transported in FY 1994 was 48.04 million, and transported passengers/km was 322,33 million/km.
Tokyo No. 12 Line started operation in December 199l, with a linear-motordriven subway which is smaller in size and therefore is better in curvepassing and slope-climbing performances, and also which lowered subway construction costs.
Furthermore, new line construction for the total distance of 124.6 km is underway.
(2) Monorail and New Traffic System
With regards to monorails, the nine lines including the Tokyo Monorail Haneda Line are in operation, and route extension construction is underway for six lines in Tokyo, Chiba, Osaka and Kitakyushu. In the New Traffic System, nine lines are in operation, and two lines are under construction on in Osaka and Yokohama.
[Linear Metro]
The "linear metro" is a subway using a linear motor, instead of a conventional rotary motor, to drive cars. The linear metro has the features mentioned below and saves a great deal on construction costs, so that it is attracting an in easing amount of public attention as a new means of urban transportation.
Features
1. Use of a flat linear motor lowers the car floor level. This red the size of cars, thus halving the tunnel's required sectional area.
2. Linear metro trains easily manage steep slopes and curves and move in a small space. Steep sloped lines will enable above ground-to-underground subway sections to shortened. Sharp curves allow subway trains to pass beneath above ground roads, thus saving land costs to a great extent.
5 Activation of Bus Traffic
(1)Desirable Activation of Buses
In order to secure smooth mobility in urban traffic and to satisfy the demands for relieving road traffic congestion and for saving energy, it is important to ensure punctuality of the bus operation and make the bus a charming traffic organ.
